Politics 23 May 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Haruna Kasolo Explains NRM's Resurgence in Buganda
Kyotera County MP Haruna Kasolo attributes the ruling NRM party's recent electoral success in Buganda to unfulfilled promises by opponents and the party's own effective mobilization strategies. Kasolo, who regained his seat after losing in 2021, shared his insights on the political landscape of the region in a recent interview. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/magazines/people-power/haruna-kasolo-on-why-nrm-bounced-back-in-buganda--5470992
Haruna Kasolo, the outgoing State Minister for Finance in charge of Microfinance and Small Enterprises, believes the National Resistance Movement (NRM) has regained favor in Buganda. Having successfully reclaimed his Kyotera County seat from the National Unity Platform (NUP), Kasolo shared his perspective on the shift in voter allegiance.
Kasolo suggested that the 2021 election wave, which saw many NRM ministers lose their seats, was partly a signal to President Museveni. He argued that voters in Buganda felt they could challenge the President by defeating his representatives in the region. However, he contends that the elected opposition failed to deliver on their promises during their five-year term, leading voters to reconsider the NRM.
“The voters were waiting to receive the services they promised. They received none. I think they resorted to coming back to us,” Kasolo stated, attributing the bounce-back of several ministers, including himself and Amelia Kyambadde, to this disillusionment.
Addressing accusations of vote rigging, Kasolo dismissed them as misinterpretations of his strong mobilization skills. As the NRM Vice Chairperson for the central region, he emphasized his role in strengthening the party’s presence and ensuring its flagbearers were supported. He clarified that when he mentioned President Museveni’s intervention in a disputed Masaka City Woman Representative race, he was referring to the President’s role as NRM party chairperson, focused on ensuring fair tallying of votes for the party’s candidate, not coercing judicial decisions.
Kasolo also dismissed notions of ethnic undertones in his victory for the NRM vice chairperson position, asserting that Buganda is a diverse region and that his win was due to his superior potential over his opponent.
Regarding the Catholic Church’s alleged opposition in 2021, he called it “short-sighted,” stating that Parliament focuses on political parties, not religious affiliations. He also commented on the controversial kidnapping of a Catholic priest in the region, acknowledging it was not a positive event and that the President had intervened. Kasolo attributed his electoral success to capitalizing on the mistakes of his opponents and offering a clear comparison of service delivery to the constituents.
Source: Daily Monitor (Uganda)